Ribbon rack



L. JOHNSON RIBBON RACK April 22, 1941.

Filed April 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l L. JOHNSON RIBBON RACK April 22,1941.

Filed April 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m t i m k Q J J w fi Q iv a: o B o w? T p q W H 2 W \N F- mm \w..% T, m L

m g 5 i H m Inn 9 n O 2 w\ i E m ww FILFI .|-l=l-L L. JQHNSON RIBBON RACK April 22, 1941.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 4, 1938 Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RIBBON RACK Lane Johnson, Houston, Tex.

Application April 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,959

5 Claims.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in an attachment of the character described a novel type of ribbon holding, driving and guiding assembly completely independent of the typing machine and by means of which two ribbons may be used.

The invention also embodies a novel type of driving mechanism in combination with the driving assembly,

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of ribbon feeding means whereby the ribbons may be selectively driven.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in an attachment of the character described novel shifting means, automatically operable by the shift key on the typing machine.

The invention also includes a ribbon guide of novel construction and adapted to be mounted on the ribbon vibrator of the typing machine.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the rack.

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional View of the driving mechanism of the ribbon feeding or driving assembly.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view thereof taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows a plan view of the rack, partly in section, shown in its relation to the typing machine, a fragmentary portion only of said typing machine being shown.

Figure 6 shows a side View of a typing machine showing the attachment assembled therewith.

Figure 7 shows a fragmentary cross sectional view.

Figure 8 shows a front elevation of the ribbon guide which may be employed.

Figure 9 shows a plan view thereof.

Figure 10 shows a vertical sectional view on the line I l!I of Figure 8.

Figure 11 shows a fragmentary, cross-section of the crank for the ribbon moving means, and

Figure 12 shows the connection of the crossbar and bracket.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures, the numerals I, I designate the side brackets which are of a general right angle shape in cross section and which have the outwardly turned supporting flanges 2, 2 and have, at their rear ends, the upstanding posts 3, 3 provided with upper and lower bearings 4, 5. Each bracket I has an outwardly extended stud 6. There is a main U-shaped shift lever having the side bars I, 1 and the front cross bar 8. Each side bar 'I has a bearing 5a to receive the corresponding stud 6 whereby the shift lever is pivotally mounted. Upstanding from the cross bar 8 of the main shift lever are the ver tically adjustable keys 9, 9, which may be secured at any point of adjustment by means of the clamp screws I0, I0. These adjustable keys 9, 9 are aligned under the shift keys II, II of the typing machine, whereby upon actuating a shift key of said typing machine the shift lever of the attachment will also be automatically actuated.

There is an upstanding frame preferably formed of heavy wire and having the parallel side legs I2, I2 which are fitted downwardly through the bearings 4, 5 on each side and whose lower ends rest on the corresponding side bars I of the main shift lever as more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6. The frame is approximately rectangular in general contour and includes the top cross bar I3, the parallel end bars I4, I4, and the bottom cross bars I 5, I5, all preferably joined integrally together and formed integrally with the legs. When the front cross bar 3 of the main shift lever is depressed, the rear ends of the side bars 1 and the frame will be elevated as more specifically hereinafter explained and for a purpose to be stated. Secured to one of the lower cross bars I5 of the frame and outstanding therefrom, there is an arm I 5, on the free end of which there is rotatably supported the upper and lower ribbon spools I1, I8 on which the upper and lower ribbons, I9, 20, are wound. Secured to the opposite bar I5 there is an outwardly extended arm 2| depending from which there is a circular housing 22. In this housing there is a vertical axial shaft 23 which extends upwardly through a bearing in the arm 2| and which has keyed thereon a ratchet wheel 25. Within the housing 22 there is a spool 25 having a central hub which is fitted closely around the shaft 23 beneath the ratchet 24 and whose lower end rides on the bottom of the housing 22. Beneath said spool within the housing 22 and surrounding said hub there is a coil spring 26, one end of which is secured to the housing wall and whose other end is at tached to a vertical pin 21 which is anchored to and extends upwardly through the web of the spool 25 and on the upper end of which the dog 28 is pivoted. This dog is normally held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 24 by means of the hat pressure spring 29 one end of which is secured to the spool and whose other end presses against the outer side of said dog.

There is a flexible tape 38 coiled around the spool 25, one end of which is attached to said spool and the other end of which passes outwardly through the slot 3| of the housing 22 and is provided with suitable attaching means, such as a hook a, for connecting it to the carriage of the typing machine. As the typing process proceeds, the carriage of the typing machine will move to the left, thus unwinding the tape 39 and causing the spool 25 to turn, thus winding up the coil spring 26, placing the same under tension. It is to be noted that the spool is loosely mounted on the shaft 23 but as the spool turns under the influence of the pull of the tape 3! the dog 28 will engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel as and cause said wheel to turn. As this ratchet wheel is keyed to the shaitv 23, said shaft Will also turn. Asthe carriage of the typing machine is returned moving to the right, the tension of the coil spring 28 will turn the spool 25 in the opposite direction, thus winding up the tape, but the spool will turn idly, the ratchet wheel 24 and shaft 23 remaining stationary during the return movement of the carriage of the typing machine. 7

As shown the upper end of the shaft 23 is polygonal so as to form a driving connection with the upper and lower ribbon driving discs 32,33, whose hubs have polygonal holes to receive the upper end of said shaft. The upper and lower ribbons I9, 20 are guided around the upper and lower driving discs 32, 33 in any preferred manner. The arm 2| has an extension 34 and there is a crank arm 35 which has a bearing in the extension 34 and upstands therefrom. It has the offset wrists on which the upper and lower gripping rollers 36, 3? are mounted to rotate and also has the overturned handle or grip member 38 for manipulating the gripping rollers 35, 31. Either gripping roller may be thereby actuated into position to grip the selected ribbon between said roller and ribbon driving disc 32, or 33, as desired so that either the upper or the lower ribbon, l9 or 29, may be moved or fed as the work proceeds. On the top cross bar I3 there is a ribbon holding shield comprising a bracket 39 and the oppositely extended ribbon guides 40, d0, shaped to receive, retain and guide the upper and lower ribbons I9, 20. The central portion of the lower end of the shield is cut away providing a notch 41 to expose the ribbons to the type of the typing machine when a key is struck. The bracket 32 is fastened to the cross bar 13 by means of clamp screws 42 which extend through a vertically elongated slots 43 in the bracket 39, thus providing for the vertical adjustment of the ribbon guide or for its removal in case it 'is not desired to use the same.

The attachment hereinabove described may be so designed as to be assembled with any conventional typing machine and may also be readily removed therefrom.

In assembling the attachment with the typing machine, side brackets are first located in place a on each side of the typing machine. The shift lever is then located underneath the key board of the typing machines so as to embrace the side bracket, as shown, for example, in Figure l. The side bars I are sprung outwardly, slightly, so as to permit the studs 6 to enter the bearings 6a,

the shift lever being made suificiently flexible to permit this. The side legs of the frame are then fitted downwardly through the bearings t, 5, the ribbon holding guide and driving assembly having been previously installed on said'frame. In some types of typing machine, the ribbons, i9, 20, may be properly mounted in position before installation. In some types of typewriters, or typing machines, the ribbons must be mounted in operating position after the attachment is installed.

When the attachment is installed, the upper ribbon should be in position to receive the type face exactly centered with respect to the platen M, as shown in Figure '7. If the upper ribbon is not so located, the ribbon holding shield may be adjusted vertically by loosening the clamp screws l9 making the proper adjustment and then tightening said clamp screws it to secure the keys 9 in proper position. The ribbon 19 or 23, as the case may be, and which it is to use, should then be gripped between the corresponding driving disc 32 or 33 by adjusting the corresponding gripping roller 33 or 3i in gripping relation with the ribbon so as to grip the ribbon between said roller and the corresponding disc. A blank sheet of paper, as $5, should then be inserted in front of the ribbon holding shield. It is to be assumed that the regular typewriter ribbon will be mounted on the machine and, as the work proceeds, the subject matter will be typed on the front of the sheet 45 in the usual way in View of the operator. The sensitive sides of the ribbons l9 and 28 will be in front so that the negative master will be typed on the rear side of the inserted sheet d5. While carrying on this work, it may be done in two colors, by shifting from one ribbon is, or 23, to the other. For this purpose, the sliding elevators db, it, are provided, one on each side behind and aligned with the lower ends of the legs H as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6. When in inactive position, these elevators will be out of contact with the lower ends of the legs !2 and the frame will be in its lower position with the upper ribbon It in printing position. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6, these elevators, in vertical cross section are of an inverted U-shaped form. They embrace the corresponding side bars I and their lower margins have the inwardly turned flanges 46a which run in the side grooves 1a of the side bars 1, as shown in Figure 6. There is a transverse shaft 41 mounted to rotate in the corresponding bearings in the forward ends of the side bars and it has the end cranks Ma fixed on its respective ends, whose free ends are connected by the side links 48 with the elevators. One of the cranks 41a has an'outwardly turned grip 41b. By means. of this grip the crank arms 51a may be pulled forwardly, operating through the links 48 to pull the elevators 56 forwardly. The forward ends of the elevators at their upper sides have the forwardly declining faces 33 engageable under the lower ends of the legs 52, when the elevators are moved forwardly, to elevate the frame and to carry the ribbon 29 upwardly or into printing position. When the cranks Ma. are moved into rearward position as shown in Figure 6, the elevators it will ride out from under the legs I2, permitting the frame to be lowered to move the ribbon l9 to printing position. It is to be noted that as the ribbons are shifted, the one in use should be clamped with the feeding disc 0r as the case may be, and the other ribbon released.

In order to make a positive master, the ribbon spools ll, 58 should be lifted elf of the upstanding spindle 16a, on which they are mounted, and reversed. This will position the sensitized sides of the ribbons toward the rear or facing the front of the sheet of paper in the typewriter to receive the master. The ribbon holding shield shown in Figure 1 may be removed if desired, or left in place, and the ribbons threaded through a seprate loose clip 50, shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10. I

This clip, positioned behind the vibrator 5| serves as a ribbon holding and guiding means and has the spring clamps 50a, 59a on the forward side thereof adapted to extend over the top of and grip the vibrator 5! of the typewriter, as

shown in Figures 9 and 10, through which the ordinary typewriter ribbon is threaded, the ordinary typewriter ribbon having been previously removed from the typewriter. The clip 50 has the upper and lower ribbon guides 52, 53 through which the ribbons i9, move. This clip may be of any selected design, an illustration thereof merely being shown. Positive masters may then be typewritten by manipulating the typing machine in the usual way. The ribbons may be shifted so that the work may be produced in two colors through the regular shifting means provided for raising the vibrator on any standard typewriter, for using two color ribbon.

The attachment may also be used for typing the copy on the front of the sheet and the negative on the back of the sheet at the same time and in one color. Thi may be done by mounting a spool of suitable ribbon on the ribbon spindle I ia with the sensitized side facing the rear and then mounting on said spindle [6a a suitable hectograph spool of ribbon with the sensitized side thereof faced to the front. The hectograph ribbon should be threaded through the guides of the shield and the ordinary blank carbon paper ribbon should be threaded through the vibrator 5| and the free ends of both of these ribbons should be inserted between one of the feedings means of the driving discs 32, 33, and the corresponding gripping roller 36 or 31. A blank sheet of paper should then be inserted in the naehine between the two ribbons as thus mounted. The copy will then be typed on the front of the sheet in view of the operator and the negative on the back of the sheet at the same time.

As hereinabove explained, the main shift lever embodying the side bars I and the cross bar 8 is automatically operated when the shift key, as H, of the typewriter is used. This is true, however, only when the attachment is used on what is commonly known as the carriage shift type of typewriter. If the attachment is to be applied to a typewriter having the basket shift the keys 9 should be adjusted downwardly into inoperative position so that when the shift key is operated it will not operate the mainshift lever.

The drawings and description disclose What is now considered to be a preferred form of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for driving typewriter ribbons comprising a driving member, a spool, a tape wound on the spool and having attaching means for attaching the tape to a typewriter carriage whereby, upon movement of the carriage, in one direc-- tion, the spool will be turned and the tape unwound therefrom, clutch means adapted to clutch the spool with the driving member upon such turning movement of the spool to rotate the driving member forwardly and for releasing the spool from the driving member upon reverse rotation of the spool, means adapted to be placed under tension by the forward turning movement of the spool and effective to cause a reverse rotation of the spool upon return movement of the carriage, a plurality of ribbons mounted for forward movement, ribbon advancing rollers adapted to be driven by the driving member, means for gripping a selected one of said plurality of ribbons in driving relation with one of said rollers and means for moving said selected ribbon to writing position.

2. A ribbon rack comprising a frame, means for supporting the frame, ribbon guiding means on the frame, means for selecting the elevation of the guiding means, ribbons on the guiding means, means for raising and lowering the guiding means relative to said selected position to move a selected ribbon to writing position, said ribbon guiding means being adapted to carry a series of vertically aligned ribbons and means for feeding the ribbon which is in writing position.

3. A ribbon rack comprising vertical posts adapted to clamp on a typewriter, feet on the lower ends of the posts adapted to support said posts, a yoke slida-bly connected to said posts and ribbons carried by the yoke one arranged above another, and means to raise and lower said yoke to selectively move the ribbons to upper or lower position.

4. A ribbon rack comprising vertical posts adapted to clamp on a typewriter, feet on the lower ends of the posts adapted to support said posts, a yoke slidably connected to said posts, ribbons one above the other on the yoke and means to raise and lower said yoke, said means comprising a pivoted member positioned to be actuated at one end by a shift key of the typewriter and the other end being operatively connected with, and adapted to raise and lower the yoke to selectively move the ribbons to writing position.

5. Ribbon driving means for advancing a typewriter ribbon comprising a driving member, a spool loosely mounted on said member, a flexible element wound on the spool for attachment to a typewriter carriage whereby, upon movement of the carriage in one direction, the spool will be turned and said flexible element unwound therefrom, clutch means adapted to clutch the spool with the driving member upon such turning movement of the spool to rotate the driving member forwardly and effective to release the spool from the driving member upon reverse rotation of the spool, a helical spring adapted to be placed under tension by the forward turning movement of the spool and effective to cause a reverse rotation of the spool upon return movement of the carriage, a ribbon advancing roller connected to and adapted to be driven by the driving member and a gripping roller arranged to grip the ribbon between it and the advancing roller whereby the ribbon will be advanced upon said forward rotation of the driving member.

LANE JOHNSON. 

